UPDATE: Thanks for the comments! To me the "relaxed waves" is what she thinks is her her natural hair and that's why I don't want her to call it her natural hair. I want her to understand what is and what isn't your natural hair.She doesn't think she has to cut off the relaxed hair she thinks it just goes back to it's natural state after no relaxers for a while.

i would say that new new growth is natural, that im going natural. i guess, when you got enough new growth and you can see it, you can say your natural...... i never BC cause i never used heat or chemicals, (apart from a wrong dark brown) but i never looked after my hair. so ive pretty much been natual all my life......

A dear relative is butt-hurt over another relative's calling herself natural. She does a rollerset and airdries "curly" so that her roots match her ends now that she is stretching her relaxers out and can see waves/curls of newgrowth. The other one hates that, especially since she has done the BC this year (so now she's the natural hair expert).

I just don't care how other people refer to their hair unless they're giving me advice. It doesn't affect my hair, or theirs either, as it's just a word.

Bottom line, if she stopped getting relaxers a week ago, and she feels that 1/8 of unrelaxed hair is justification to call herself natural, who are we to tell her otherwise? No need to split hairs, it's a big step putting a relaxer down, so let her get through it how she sees fit . Better she call herself natural now and get used to it, than to chop it all off to be "certified" as natural, and then get another relaxer in 2 weeks (ironically the second DR I mentioned did this).

I think she gets to be a natural once she stops relaxing – not when all the hair on her head has never been relaxed. Eventually her hair will reflect her new mentality/hair regimen. After all, people call themselves CG as soon as they start, not only after they've done it for x-amount of time! This isn't an exclusive club. Let her be proud that she's taking a step away from the chemicals and what-not.

I hope I don't seem insensitive. I'm not sure I understand why she irks you?

Wait. So if I relax today, am I natural tomorrow and everyday after that until I relax again?? I say ur transitioning to natural until all the relaxed hair is gone. BUT who really gives a ish. We're not in a competition. Welcome her to the natural family and let's hope she stays a while. If not, that's ok too. It's not our hair.

Wait. So if I relax today, am I natural tomorrow and everyday after that until I relax again?? I say ur transitioning to natural until all the relaxed hair is gone. BUT who really gives a ish. We're not in a competition. Welcome her to the natural family and let's hope she stays a while. If not, that's ok too. It's not our hair.

Originally Posted by mcheryce

Totally this. I've had people say they're natural because they have a texturizer. I do not agree and will tell them so. That's the line.

But if she is transitioning I GUESS it's ok to say she's natural. As long as she doesn't get it in her mind that the relaxed waves are her "natural texture". That can lead to major problems.

Wait. So if I relax today, am I natural tomorrow and everyday after that until I relax again?? I say ur transitioning to natural until all the relaxed hair is gone. BUT who really gives a ish. We're not in a competition. Welcome her to the natural family and let's hope she stays a while. If not, that's ok too. It's not our hair.

Originally Posted by mcheryce

That's a great point, mcheryce. I agree that transitioning is a more accurate term. However, I think once someone has the intention of no longer relaxing their hair and going natural, they can call themselves natural if they'd like.

Totally this. I've had people say they're natural because they have a texturizer. I do not agree and will tell them so. That's the line.

But if she is transitioning I GUESS it's ok to say she's natural. As long as she doesn't get it in her mind that the relaxed waves are her "natural texture". That can lead to major problems. FroZen

Originally Posted by BlackAngelPlayah

Oy, texturizer... (Grade school flashbackkkk.) I agree that is not natural. At all. Plus the hair gets all porous and angry. lol ...My scalp itches just thinking about it.

If anything i think we should cut transitioning-girl-who-calls-herself-natural some slack. Her damaged relaxed hair is gonna look funky until she cuts it off – and then she has to learn how to work with her real texture! We know what really looks good, ladies. And it ain't the texturized stuff.